How to Overcome a Horrific Injury or Setback (Both in Life and Sports)

I am sure by now you have heard about the gruesome injury to the Indiana Pacers start Paul George. I will spare you the details but he sustained a leg injury that will sideline him presumably for all of next year. You hate to see this type of injury to anyone, he has a long road to recovery ahead but not one that can’t be overcome with courage, guts and determination.

Whether it be on the basketball court or in your professional career, experiencing a setback can be very disheartening. There’s nothing like being on the verge of major success, only to have it stripped away by an unfortunate turn of events. Whether you’re an athlete who has experienced an injury, or someone who has experienced a setback in your personal life, the following tips and strategies should help you pull through.

Build Relationships with People Experiencing the Same Thing

There’s nothing more effective for maintaining your sanity during a setback than by building relationships with people who’ve also experienced the same thing. For example, if you’re a baseball player who has sprained your ankle, perhaps try finding comfort in other baseball players who have undergone the same thing. On a more personal note, if you’ve just been laid off from your job, it always helps to relate with other individuals who have also experienced this same setback.

Pick a New Sport or Hobby

Just because you’ve become injured, doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t participate in any other sport. Just because you’ve broken your arm, doesn’t mean that you can’t take up bowling or table tennis. Acquiring a new sport, even for the time being, can help you forget about the road to recovery and help you better enjoy your time off. The same principle applies in all areas of life as well. For instance, if your store has recently gone out of business, use this an opportunity to build a new business in a different industry.

Create Meaningful Goals

A goal can give you something to look forward to after a major setback. Ask any athlete whose been injured and they’ll tell you that the thought of being back on the court or field was enough to fuel their motivation. The size of the goals don’t really matter. They can be something as simple as promising to stay in physical therapy until you heal. In life, having a meaningful goal can help you overcome the inevitable obstacles that will be thrown at you. Without having goals, you might become demotivated and lose hope in the future.

Search for Success Stories

This is a powerful tip to keep in mind whenever you’ve experienced a major injury or setback. Considering that there are about 7.5 billion people on the planet, chances are good that some people have experienced the same thing you have – and a few of them have probably gone on to succeed in spite of their setback. Finding these success stories are really important because they demonstrate that it is possible to succeed despite getting injured or facing a tough obstacle.

Parting Thoughts – You Can Succeed With Enough Determination

Obstacles are what keep life entertaining, and just because you experience a few here and there, doesn’t mean that life’s over. Whether it be on the court or at your job, learning how to deal with these obstacles, and become a better person by learning from them, is what life’s all about.